REVIEW: Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Chocolate Bar

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Hershey s Cookies N Chocolate Bar

What is Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Chocolate Bar?

I imagine that the Hershey’s product development team, having run the gamut by adding nuts, candies, pretzels, and even uh…air to its chocolate bars, must have turned to Xzibit in a moment of desperation for their latest offering.

After a period of intense thought, he came back to them and said, “Yo dawgs, I heard you like chocolate, so I put some chocolate in your chocolate, so you can eat some chocolate while you eat your chocolate!”

Presenting the Hershey’s Cookies “N’ Chocolate Bar.

How is it?

Hershey s Cookies N Chocolate Bar Bricks

The familiar flavor of Hershey’s milk chocolate with its light, butyric acid tang is the dominant flavor here. The chocolate cookie inclusions are the same as with the cookies and crème bar, but without the creamy white chocolate to offer contrast they only add a bit of textural interest. They’re like the puffed rice in a Crunch Bar that way, though these are much heartier. Anyone who has eaten a Hershey’s chocolate bar (a.k.a. everyone) has tasted this before.

Hershey s Cookies N Chocolate Bar Innards

Is there anything else you need to know?

The Xzibit meme is more than ten years old, which is so long in Internet years that one almost expects to find it written on a clay cuneiform tablet. The fact that I remember it tells you that I’m old, and so I claim the privilege of being a crotchety old man to say: People eat chocolate wrong! And it’s because of bars like this!

Chocolate is best enjoyed by allowing it to luxuriously melt in your mouth. You know, like the famous old person candy Werther’s Original. If you do that with Hershey’s Cookies’ N’ Chocolate Bar, you end up with a mouth full of soggy cookie bits. And so people are taught to munch down on their chocolate, and the world spins further off into chaos.

Conclusion:

There’s nothing to particularly recommend about this candy bar. The cookie bits add texture, which some youngsters may like, but do nothing to heighten its flavor.

Purchased Price: $1.48
Size: 2.5 oz./70 grams (King Size)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (35 grams) 170 calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 18 grams of sugar including 16 grams added sugar, and 3 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Chips Ahoy Made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and Reese’s Pieces

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Chips Ahoy Made with Hershey s Milk Chocolate and Reese s Pieces

If candy had big egos, how would Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and Reese’s Pieces would feel about Chips Ahoy Made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate also containing semisweet chocolate chips and Chips Ahoy Made with Reese’s Pieces also containing peanut buttery chips?

I imagine Hershey’s Milk Chocolate would be like, “I am THE Great American Chocolate Bar, and I’m not going to share cookie space with something that has semi- in its name.”

And I think Reese’s Pieces would say something like, “I’m not only beloved on this planet, but extraterrestrials also love me. So I don’t want peanut buttery chips around me to taint my galactic flavor.”

Because cookies can’t express themselves, I’ll do it on their behalf. I wish the chips were left out, and they were baked with only the Hershey products. But, even though that’s not the case, these are some tasty treats.

Original Chips Ahoy have a unique flavor, and obviously, the addition of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate changes that. But are these an improvement over the original?

Chips Ahoy Made with Hershey s Milk Chocolate

They are, but it’s a slight enhancement. I do appreciate there are chunks of the Hershey’s chocolate that dwarf the semisweet chips. The milk chocolate makes the cookie taste a bit sweeter than the original and brings a different texture that’s noticeably softer and melts easier than the darker chips.

But just like Original Chips Ahoy have a unique flavor, so does Hershey’s chocolate, and it was hard for my taste buds to detect it while eating the cookie. That’s not a bad thing, just something I noticed. Also, these seem crispier than regular Chips Ahoy and the Reese’s Pieces version.

Chips Ahoy Made with Reese s Pieces

Speaking of those, if you think about it, seeing Reese’s Pieces in cookies was something we’d eventually see because, let’s be honest, Reese’s has stuffed the peanut buttery candy buttons into everything else the brand offers, so it was time to expand out a little.

Those bites with a Reese’s Pieces had the flavor of the candy and an extra crunch from the shell. But because they’re not equally distributed throughout the cookie (something that’s also the case with the Hershey’s one), there were many bites with only the peanut buttery chips. Those tasted like a typical peanut butter cookie, but lighter in flavor. But despite those issues, I really enjoy these.

If I have a craving for inexpensive mass-produced cookies and these two are still on shelves next to Original Chips Ahoy, I’d choose either one over the classic. But, between the two new products, I’d give a slight edge to the Reese’s Pieces, but that’s because of my bias as an extraterrestrial.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free samples. Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 9.5 oz.
Purchased at: Received from Nabisco
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Hershey’s), 7 out of 10 (Reese’s)
Nutrition Facts: (2 cookies) Hershey’s – 160 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 85 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, 9 grams of added sugars, and 1 gram of protein. Reese’s Pieces – 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, 8 grams of added sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Pretzel Bites, Cookies ‘N’ Crème Cookie Bites, and Milk Chocolate Cookie Bites

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Hershey s Bites 1

What are Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Pretzel Bites, Cookies’ N’ Crème Cookie Bites, and Milk Chocolate Cookie Bites?

Hershey’s latest innovations are a group of familiar flavors in tiny ball format. Why? Because you just vacuumed up the last batch of small, round snacks that rolled into the deep recesses of your home in 2019.

There are two varieties of cookie bites – one vanilla cookie with milk chocolate coating, one chocolate cookie with white crème coating – and pretzel bites with a milk chocolate coating.

How are they?

I really wanted to try these because I am both a choco-pretzel fiend and a cookies & cream fanatic of the highest order. I was less interested in the vanilla cookie/chocolate combo.

Hershey s Bites 2

First thing, I was surprised at the size of them. I saw that the main photo on the package was enlarged, but I figured they’d be Whoppers-sized, like the rest of the images on the bag. Nope – teensy. The cookie bites were 1/2″ wide and the pretzel bites slightly larger. The bag was only half-full. Disappointing, but not a deal-breaker.

Hershey s Bites 3

The chocolate and white crème coatings were exactly what I’d expect from Hershey’s – delicious, but in this case, not ground-breaking. The texture was good – crunchy, but not too hard. I wished the pretzel balls were a tad saltier, though (if I’m doing sweet/salty, I’m going hard). I prefer Pretzel M&M’s to these.

Funny enough, the Milk Chocolate Cookie Bites – that I didn’t care much about at first – were the standouts here. Maybe because the vanilla cookie/chocolate coating combo isn’t as popular right now, so it’s not a well-worn flavor. When I bit into them, they tasted exactly like those not-Oreo vanilla cookies that I ate in my youth. It felt surprisingly nostalgic.

Hershey s Bites 4

I think there’s something of interest in the Milk Chocolate Cookie Bites because of the generally neglected vanilla cookie flavor profile, and would buy them again. The other two, however, seem like duplicates of existing products, just in a smaller, slightly different shape that I don’t think anyone was clamoring for. Maybe they should’ve marketed them as a mix of all three bites in one bag – like a flavor roulette – which one will you get?

Hershey s Bites 5

Is there anything else you need to know?

These things are HIGHLY mobile and slippery. I dropped at least five that I had to hunt for after they promptly rolled away.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for something new, try the Milk Chocolate Cookies Bites. If you’re looking for solid, good old-fashioned Hershey flavor, try any of them. I’m not completely sure why they exist, but here they are!

Purchased Price: 3 for $12 (on sale)
Size: 7.5 oz. bags
Purchased at: Hershey’s Chocolate World
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Pretzel Bites), 7 out of 10 (Cookies ‘N’ Creme Bites), 8 out of 10 (Chocolate Cookie Bites)
Nutrition Facts: – Milk Chocolate Pretzel Bites: (30g – 17 pieces) 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 135 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, 12 grams of added sugar and 2 grams of protein. Cookies ‘N’ Crème Cookie Bites: (30g – 21 pieces) 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 13 grams of total sugars, 11 grams of added sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Milk Chocolate Cookie Bites: (30g – 26 pieces) 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 60 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of total sugars, 13 grams of added sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: White Reese’s Stuffed with Pieces

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Reese s White Creme Peanut Butter Cups Stuffed with Reese s Pieces

What is the White Reese’s Stuffed with Pieces?

Exclusive to Dollar General stores, Reese’s newest product is a white crème cup filled with Reese’s Pieces bits and the brand’s signature peanut butter filling.

How is it?

With each new addition to its line of products, Reese’s takes more of a “choose your own adventure” approach to offering the perfect peanut butter cup to meet individual tastes. Navigating among coating types, sizes and shapes, and filling add-ins, Reese’s fans get to try out new combinations more often than new flavors, and as a result, strong personal preferences form and comparisons are inevitable.

Reese s White Creme Peanut Butter Cups Stuffed with Reese s Pieces Outside

Personally, I swear that Reese’s Trees and Eggs are superior to your average cup. Milk chocolate ranks first, followed by white crème and dark chocolate, respectively. In 2016, when Reese’s introduced Reese’s Stuffed with Pieces in the milk chocolate variety, the addition of crunchy candy shells didn’t wow me enough to make my list of favorites.

Setting aside my biases, I was drawn to White Reese’s Stuffed with Pieces for its novelty, exclusive status, and charming polka dot wrapper. The white crème delivers in both flavor and texture, as the sturdy shell easily melts into a creamy bite with a subtle white chocolate taste. The crème’s flavor allows the peanut butter filling to shine.

Reese s White Creme Peanut Butter Cups Stuffed with Reese s Pieces Inside

The Reese’s Pieces bits add an enjoyable element of texture, but still feel scarce in number. In my pack of two, each cup contained at least one whole candy piece, which doesn’t quite meet the expectation that the word “stuffed” implies, but was still an improvement over my experience with the barely-there candy shells in the milk chocolate variety.

When I encountered a whole candy, I could taste its peanut butter flavor even against the powerful peanut butter filling. While Reese’s Pieces are not enough to make the milk chocolate variety special for me, they are enough to make the white crème variety more interesting.

Is there anything else you need to know?

The product wrapper specifies white crème because it contains no cocoa butter and so technically cannot be classified as chocolate.

Conclusion:

Having already dabbled in both white crème and Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s is not exploring uncharted territory with White Reese’s Stuffed with Pieces, but all of the elements work together well in this peanut butter-and-texture-forward candy. If you are a Reese’s aficionado who likes having options, try out this variety and share where it falls in your peanut butter power ranking.

Purchased Price: 95 cents
Size: 1.4 oz. (2 cups)
Purchased at: Dollar General
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 12 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein

REVIEW: General Mills Hershey’s Kisses Cereal

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Hershey s Kisses Cereal

What is Hershey’s Kisses Cereal?

General Mills and Hershey’s have joined forces to bring the Hershey’s Kiss to your breakfast table with Hershey’s Kisses Cereal: chocolate-flavored corn puff pieces shaped like the classic candy.

How is it?

Half of the fun of candy- or dessert-inspired cereals is discovering how closely the it physically resembles the original product. While Hershey’s Kisses Cereal does not precisely replicate its namesake, its appearance is clearly inspired by Hershey’s Kisses: its dime-sized pieces are shaped like triangles with flat sides and smoothed edges.

Hershey s Kisses Cereal Comparison

Most of the pieces boast a droopy, rounded stem in place of the candy’s signature pointed tip, so whether you perceive the cereal as tiny Hershey’s Kisses or something else is a matter for Rorschach. (To me, they resemble the poop emoji. I’m sorry, but it had to be said, and I promise not to bring it up again.)

Hershey s Kisses Cereal Pieces

Anyway, a chocolate cereal by any other shape would be just as sweet, which Hershey’s Kisses Cereal definitely is. It tastes very similar to Cocoa Puffs, with its cocoa powder sweetness and crunchy texture. It took a few bites to discern a difference, but I tasted just a hint more richness with this.

Hershey s Kisses Cereal Milk

Adding milk enhances the dry cocoa flavor to something closer to milk chocolate. With only one or two stirs, the milk begins to turn brown, and with more time (or if you are like me, impatient agitation), a rich, thick chocolate milk appears.

Although I haven’t broken out my crazy straw in a couple of decades, the cereal milk did remind me of using Hershey’s syrup to make chocolate milk, as visible chocolate swirls move throughout the milk and streak the sides and bottom of the bowl. As this transformation occurs, the cereal retains its taste and texture. Although this is a solid chocolate cereal when eaten dry, I highly recommend adding milk for the full chocolate-y effect.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Hershey s Kisses Cereal Bowl

In a blind taste test, I could not have pinpointed the Hershey’s association, but the list of ingredients does include Hershey’s Cocoa Processed with Alkali as the brand’s contribution.

Conclusion:

Although comparable to many chocolate cereals on the shelves, Hershey’s Kisses Cereal is enjoyable and, with milk, will give you two chocolate treats for the price of one.

Purchased Price: $3.64
Size: 19.8 oz. box
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 cup) 140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 150 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

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